What are the responsibilities and job description for the Office Assistant position at Vermont Law and Graduate School?
Job Description:
The Office Assistant plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of the South Royalton Legal Clinic, Vermont Law and Graduate School's on-campus, real-client civil legal clinic. This position works closely with the Clinic's Office Manager to support the Clinic's attorneys, who are also professors, in coordinating the Clinic's functioning as both an active law office and a teaching arm of the law school.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provides primary front desk coverage for the South Royalton Legal Clinic in conjunction with work-study students.
- Fields incoming telephone, in-person, and email inquiries from prospective clients, documents necessary information, triages, and refers inquiries as appropriate; prepares and coordinates routine and case-related correspondence for attorneys, including filing electronically and through U.S. mail.
- Conducts basic initial screenings of potential clients.
- Maintains case file storage for files closed for at least 7 years, corresponds with former clients, and implements file destruction policy.
- Assists the Office Manager in organizing and maintaining library materials.
- Maintains and updates client files as needed.
- Performs clerical tasks, such as sorting and sending mail.
- Maintains and tracks office supplies.
Requirements:
- High school diploma required; Associate's Degree or higher preferred.
- Knowledge of office practices and procedures.
- Proficient in using grammar, with editing experience a plus but not required.
- Able to interact with others with patience, consideration, and discretion.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Able to respond appropriately to pressures, deadlines, and changes in priorities and schedules.
- Computer competency with Microsoft Office Suite and Outlook.
Other Requirements:
- Able to prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines and reorganize under pressure.
- Able to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
- Able to work legally within the United States without sponsorship.
- Able to perform all essential functions of the job with or without basic accommodations.
Vermont Law and Graduate School is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness, valuing diversity in our faculty, staff, and students. We seek unique backgrounds to enrich and challenge our community.
